//------------------------------// // 10: Secrets Revealed // Story: The Night Mare: Risen // by InkCrescent //------------------------------// "What the -- huh?" Rainbow Dash stuttered. "What in the world is this? Fake wings?" "Uh . . . " Crescent began. "Well, it's not really -- " "Did you find them?" Spirit Shadow Moon and Winter Cloud entered after them, and blinked in shock at the sight of Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy. Then they turned their eyes on Crescent and Sky. Sky cringed. "Winter, Spirit, we were just -- " Hurt flashed in their eyes. "You lied to us?" Winter Cloud asked. "Why would you -- " "It wasn't like that!" Crescent snapped. "A threat was made against Canterlot and I was sent by Princess Luna -- my teacher -- and Princess Celestia to Ponyville to stay safe. Something wants my magic, but we don't know what or who it is. Sky was sent to find the same book I was after, and we met in the Castle of the Royal Pony Sisters. We steered clear of each other until we met again in Ponyville at the luncheon." "A threat?" Rainbow Dash flew forward. "Who is it? We can take them with the Elements of Harmony." "Except, sugarcube, we don't have our sixth Element -- magic," Applejack added, sadly. "Twi's missing. Spike stayed behind to see if she might show up, and the poor fella was so sad." "Yes. Poor Spikey-Wikey," Rarity murmured. "We all need to stay here," Sky said. She took a step forward. "Ignore the wings. Ignore the fact that Crescent could be Nightmare Moon" -- Crescent flattened her ears in annoyance -- "and stick together. We have to find the princesses." "The princesses? I thought only Twilight went missing," Pinkie put in. She didn't seem her usual, hyper self. "No. The candles in the hall went out," Crescent explained, "and we haven't seen Luna or Celestia at all. Not since this morning. We've been searching this Star Swirl wing for hours. He had absolutely nothing on storms." "There are never any -- or many -- storms in Canterlot, dear," Rarity said. "Let's just all get settled. We can figure this out in the morning." ~~~ "Crescent! Wake up!" Crescent pushed Winter Cloud away. "What?" she asked, climbing out of her bed. "It's Sky. We can't find her," Winter said. "She might be in the Star Swirl wing," Crescent suggested. "We checked. She wasn't there, but we found this letter. It's from someone named A," Winter said, hoofing Crescent a letter. "That stands for anonymous," Rarity added. Crescent stared in surprise at the letter. "Crescent, I believe you have something of mine. I want that Siren magic you possess. If you want your precious princesses to live, you'll do as I say. Come to the Crystal Empire. I'll be waiting. - A." Crescent dragged her gaze from the letter to the ponies surrounding her: Rainbow Dash looked shocked, Applejack looked rather angry, Rarity blinked a few times, Pinkie slowly ate a cupcake, Fluttershy looked fearful, Spirit glared down at the floor, and Winter looked worried. "I have to go after her." Crescent broke away from the group first. "Are you nuts, sugarcube? What in tarnation could ya possibly do to stop this Cristall? The Elements would work better," Applejack offered. "Well it looks like you're missing an Element, and I have an actual plan," Crescent snapped back. "I won't bring anything. All I need is my Gem." "I'm sorry," Rarity interrupted. "Your what?" "My Siren's Gem." Crescent turned to face them. "And I'll need all of your help. You five will get the princesses. Make sure to get Twlight first. That way, if needed, you can use the Elements. Spirit and Winter will get Sky. I'm sure a unicorn with magic and a pegasus with flight will be able to get her. I'll start to deal with Cristall. Sky won't have enough magic to last her. Cristall wants a Siren, she'll get one." "Twi told us about the Sirens. How can you be a Siren?" Rainbow Dash asked. "I'm not a full Siren," Crescent explained. "I have the gift of the Siren's Song, which is something only the Sirens could sing perfectly. I use my Gem to spread positive magic. But with a little bit of dark magic . . . " "Oh, no!" Spirit interrupted. "You were all the dark magic I felt near your hotel suite." "That was only for the days. It was a spell that lasted twenty-four hours, just to hide my wings," Crescent replied. "But, yes. Yes, I was. As was Sky." "Are we all ready?" Applejack asked, glancing around. Everypony nodded. "Well, then," Rainbow Dash said, narrowing her eyes, "let's go save Sky."